The Dickinson press., 1887-05-14
Dowell would he broken.

Accordingly, May %, he made fierce at
tack on Col. Kenly's little band at Front
Royal and cut it to pieces. This was the
third battle of the Shenandoah campaign.
There was nothing now between Stonewall
jackson and Banks
Banks rctreated with his small force yet
farther north. He left Strasburg and started
for Winchester
1t was now n race and a chase between
Banks and jackson to the Potomac. Ii Jack
son paused till the forces of Fremont or Nc
Dowcil could come up lie would be cut to
pieces. He therefore determined to push on,
surround Banks if possible and destroy his
army before it could be rc-enforced. He pur-
sued Banks hotly, aud once more the old town
of Winchester became the scene of Il fight,
the fourth i'll the campaign. Banks kept back
for several hours the advancing Confclcratcs.
This was May24 and 25. But tho southern
soldiers poured i'll in larger and larger num-
bers. There was nothing but to run for it.
From Winchester Banks retreated to
Martinshurg. He only waited here two
hours, when he was up and away again. At
sunset, May %, Banks reached the Potomac
river ut Williamsport.
To get on the Maryland side of the river
was the next thing. The broken army had
rotrcatcd i'll confusion, leaving great quan,i-
ties of stores behind them. jackson had lit
orally driven them into the Potomac Into
the rivcrthcy plunged. The ferry took across
the ammunition train, the cavalry swan
their horses, the wagon trains crossed by the
ford and the infantry We're conveyed over bv
means of II pontoon bridge, which had been
brought down the valley from the upper
Shenandoah.
At last the remnant of Gen. Banks broken
army was all across just in time, for ut that
!nonent jackson appeared opposite on the
Virginia side of the Potomac.
"Nrver were more grateful hearts in the
s;lmn number of men than when at midday
| ON TN" 2b.h We stur'l ON the opposite shoir,'
| said Gcn. Banks uftcrward.
| Gem Banks was So deeply rhngrin,,! ut his
| forced retreat that l,r is SAID To have she'd
tears over ii. He declared that hc lad been
sacrificed ly his !,oHrrmmcn,, that had
stripped him of Shields division ard then lift
him To meet Storewal Jackson with lc,, than,
third the number of the Confederate,
| troops.
On May ., Jackson rested on. day and h.
religious sei'vlc" performed in camp, IN With
he gave Thanks To Cod for the victory rf The
southern arms. He had marched from his
camp S'uIii vi lulilN III lilet days II distance
of sixty miles, and had fought two battle, OH
the way.
May "a there was II panic in Washington
when it became known tina, Banks was re-
treating TO the Potomac with jackson af!cl
him full tilt. .JacEson's Shenandoah cam
laisn probably prevented the capture OF
Richmond 10y Mcclellan in the summer %!
ls'2. Mcdowell was -; Fredericksburg Will
5000 men under orders to cooperate will
and finally join Mcclellan before Richmond
The defeat of Milroy and the chase of l3ank:
down the Shenandoah shattered at one stroke
the plans in front of Richmond. President
Lincoln telcgraphcl Mcdowell May 81 to put
10000 men i'll motion for the Shenandoah
valley at once. McDowcilo obrycl reluctantly.
Flo wrote the president: II have heavy
heart in the matter. feel that it throws lis
all back, and from Richmond north we shall
have all our large masses raraly2cd."
Jackson had driven Banks down and out of
the Shenandoah valley and marched his army
almost into the very teeth of Washington
| But thcnow thoroughly aroused Union armies